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Another member PM'd me to point out that these drivers may be poor quality and have current spikes. So not a good idea for a high current build near the limit of the diode.

But for a lower power build, it might be worth it to get some of the effects, like low power and strobe that a lot of the flashlights come with?

Might be worth trying on some cheap reds?

Yes LED's are much more robust than diodes so their drivers don't need to smooth out the spikes as much but there have been some that have been successfully used with the 445's as they are really tough compared to any of the other diodes we had been using previously. The NJG is an example but even that driver when tested showed it had a some good spikes when probed. As far as trying them with cheap red diodes or other lower power diodes would be more at risk as they really can't handle spikes nearly as well as the 445's or even these new high power 635's which is why we use driver that were built with that in mind.

This was one of the first real informative threads on the subject I remember reading when I first got into this hobby. I think it may still be a sticky.

Yes LED's are much more robust than diodes so their drivers don't need to smooth out the spikes as much but there have been some that have been successfully used with the 445's as they are really tough compared to any of the other diodes we had been using previously. The NJG is an example but even that driver when tested showed it had a some good spikes when probed. As far as trying them with cheap red diodes or other lower power diodes would be more at risk as they really can't handle spikes nearly as well as the 445's or even these new high power 635's which is why we use driver that were built with that in mind.

I would like to see a 445 build with a host such as Jet Beam, Eagle Tac, or Nitecore with an infinitely variable dial which could control the output of the laser. Would this be possible? If so, who can build me one??

I would like to see a 445 build with a host such as Jet Beam, Eagle Tac, or Nitecore with an infinitely variable dial which could control the output of the laser. Would this be possible? If so, who can build me one??

Those are awesome, but the Jetbeam is $110.00 so you are starting with an expensive host right off...

I would like to see a 445 build with a host such as Jet Beam, Eagle Tac, or Nitecore with an infinitely variable dial which could control the output of the laser. Would this be possible? If so, who can build me one??

Lol *hand goes up*. I've got two V20As en route for just that purpose. Though not really intending to sell them, but rather make a matching variable 635 and 445 for my own collection